09.20.2022

How to Use Emergency Out of Country Coverage While Traveling

Robert Crowder, founder and President of The Benefits Trust, has over 30 years of experience serving pension and employee benefits clients. In 1994, he founded The Benefits Trust as a Third Party Administrator serving small and mid-sized business across Canada. Through Rob Crowder's dedication and leadership, The Benefits Trust has grown into the successful benefits provider that it is today.

How to Use Emergency Out of Country Coverage While Traveling

Now that much of the world has opened up again, many people are understandably itching to travel. We’re now able to get out and explore new sights, visit friends and family overseas, and experience new places. And while that’s undeniably exciting, it’s important to remind clients to cover all of their bases before setting off.

Just like when they’re at home (and potentially even more so), your clients want to know that they’re covered in case of an emergency, should one occur while they’re away. Thankfully, that’s just what Out of Country (OOC) coverage is for! We encourage you to share the following OOC information with your clients.

Secure a Strong Out of Country Coverage Policy

If you don’t already have Out of Country coverage, be sure to acquire some before you depart. The Benefits Trust offers an excellent OOC policy in partnership with Green Shield Canada. Together, we’re keeping Canadian travelers safe and covered while they enjoy international adventures.

Green Shield Canada provides pre-trip assistance to help you with planning for your trip, including information about vaccinations needed for specific destinations, government-issued travel advisories, and information surrounding visas and required documentation needed to enter your chosen destination.

Prepare Before You Depart

Out of Country coverage can be a life saver, but only if you know how to use it. It’s essential to sort out all of the details of your coverage and have them readily available before you set out on your trip.

The best way to ensure that you’re prepared for anything in your travels is to refresh your memory and read through your policy before traveling. Not only will this help you to avoid any issues should you need to access your Out of Country coverage while away, but it will ease your mind as you embark upon your adventures abroad.

Organize the Essentials

Reading over your policy is a great first step but organizing all of your important documents and information is even better. There are a handful of simple steps to take before traveling to make sure that your Out of Country coverage is accessible at a moment’s notice, keeping you safe and secure as you explore new territories.

If you have coverage with Green Shield Canada, note that they offer coverage of translation services and can provide referrals to local translation services when traveling in a foreign country.

Pack a Physical Copy

Before you leave, be sure to print off a copy of your coverage and keep it in your bag as you travel. Intentionally pack it somewhere that you’ll remember and be able to access it easily should you need to. You may also want to place the printed copy of your coverage into a plastic sandwich bag and seal it to help protect it from any water you may encounter.

Alert your travel companions as to where they can find a copy of your policy in your bag and encourage them to print a copy of theirs before departure as well!

Save a Digital Copy

In addition to a physical copy of your coverage, we recommend having an electronic copy as well. Save it to a folder in your email or on a cloud-based service so that it’s easily accessible and consider saving a pdf version directly to your device so that you can access your policy even if you find yourself without a stable internet connection.

Keep a Copy Back Home

Lastly, it’s wise to entrust your emergency contact and/or a loved one with a copy of your Out of Country coverage before heading abroad. Provide a printed copy to a trustworthy friend or family member as your “In Case of Emergency” contact so that they’re able to support you if you find yourself stuck.

Stay Connected with Your Benefits Provider

Should you encounter a medical emergency while traveling, it’s a good idea to call the 1-800 number for your benefits provider as soon as possible for assistance. To make this easier, be sure to save the 1-800 number in your contacts so that it’s easy to find in an emergency.

Regardless of your benefits provider, early intervention will help to make your claim experience run as smoothly as possible. That way, you can focus all of your energy on recovering from your incident and regaining your health!

If you’re in need of Out of Country coverage or are looking to learn more about how to stay safe while abroad, contact The Benefits Trust today. We can tell you all about the fantastic Out of Country coverage that we offer or supply you with your copy of the OOC Green Shield Canada booklet (if you don’t have one already)!

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